Ball catching device



Feb. 23, 1965 P. B. PORT ER 3,170,688

BALL CATCHING DEVICE Filed March 1, 1962 Fig.5 Fig.6

INVENTOR Philip B. Porter ATTORNEY si n-1 1 3,170,688 BALL CATCHINGDEVICE Philip B. Porter, 2503 Gilbert Circle, Arlington, Tex. Filed Mar.1, 1962, Ser. No. 176,717

3 Claims. (Cl. 273-25) This invention relates to ball catching devices,as in the games of baseball, cricket, and other games in.

. the place of the conventional baseball glove, or catchers mit, andprovide an instrument which, with a minimum of practice, can bemanipulated with considerable skill by both children and adults to catcha ball with a minimum of hazard to the hands.

United States Patent prises a resilient body In having a handle portion11 which can be conveniently gripped in the hand 12, as illustrated inFIGURES 2, 3 and 4, and having a pocket 13 in which a ball 14 isreceived.

The receptacle or pocket 13 is substantially spherical and a graduallydeepening channel 15 is defined between the-elliptically curved edges ofthe Walls 16 which merge into the opposing edges of the handle 11, asapparent in FIGURES 1, and 6.

In manipulating the invention to catch the ball 14, as depicted inFIGURES 2, 3 and 4, the device is held in the path of the ball 14 so asto cause the same to enter the channel at a point intermediate the endsthereof, the impact occurring at what may be called the throat 17 of thepocket 13, in the manner illustrated in FIG- URES 2 and 3, the momentumof the ball 14 carrying the same into the pocket 13 as shown in FIGURE4. The body Iii, being resilient, will flex at the point of impact, asdepicted in FIGURE 3, to prevent the ball 14 A further object of theinvention isthat of providing a semi-rigid or flexible pocket device bywhich a pitched ball can be captured in flight, and having a shape whichinsures retention thereof, and affording sufficient resilience toreceive theball without the rebound attributable to some types of ballcatching devices, such as used in the game of lacrosse, and other ballcatching and handling devices.v a r Broadly, the invention contemplatesthe provision of a play and recreation device of light but durablestructure, capable of being molded from resilient or flexible plastic orrubber-like material, and formed with a suit able handle and ballreceptable by which a ball in flight can be caught and retained.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and from rebounding. I

The modified structure shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 are identical with thoseshown in FIGURES 1 to 6,

inclusive, except that a handle 18 is formed on the rear surface of theportion 11 which, when this structure is used, will function as a guardfor the hand and wrist.

The form of the invention shown in FIGURES 9 and 10,

. while embodying a pocket 19 similar-to the pocket 13 a in form, bypersons skilled in the art without departing lesser objects will becomemanifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with theappended drawings wherein: I

FIGURE 1 is a perspective illustration ofthe preferred form of theinvention.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the invention as held in the hand, and showing aball in flight about to enter the pocket. 7

FIGURE illustrates, in partial-sectiom the nominal distortion of theinvention upon impact of the ball therewith, the latter being shownpartially in dotted line.

FIGURE 4-is another illustration of the invention,

showing the pocket portion in section, and showing the ball seated inthe pocket. 1

2 FIGURE 5 in afront elevationalview of the invention illustrating thehandle portion.

FIGURE 6 is a rear elevational view.

FIGURE 7 is a side elevationalillustration of the invention modified toinclude a gripping element formed rearwardlythereof;

' FIGURE 8 is a rear elevational view ofthe structure shown in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE'9 is a side elevational viewof a modified form of the inventionhaving a loop element formed with the handle.

FIGURE 10 is a rear elevational view of the structure shown in FIGURE 9,and

FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional illustration, on: lines 11-41 of FIGURE10, showing" loop element and the flared sides of the invention.Accordingly, the invention in its preferred form comof the structuresillustrated in FIGURES 1 to 8, inclusive, includes relatively wideflanged portions 20 extending from each side of the handle portion 21and the pocket 19. Such an arrangement'provides a more ample surfaceagainst which the ball 14 may be caused to impinge, and provides a guardfor thehands. A loop: 22

is formed with the rear surface of the handle portion 21 providing ahand grip, as best shown in transverse section in FIGURE 11.

The invention is capable of substantial modification appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A ball catching device comprising a flexible bodof resilient material having a handle portion formed on from the spiritand intent thereof or' the scope of the one end, a semi-spherical pocketformed on said bodyopposite said handle capable of receiving a ball inflight,

the said body being semi-circular .in transverse section V V betweensaid handle and said pocket defining a channel gradually widening anddeepening intosaid pocket.

2. In an article of manufacture, a ball catching device formed ofresilient material and having a handle portion on one end, asemi-spherical flexible pocket formed opposite said handle portionadapted to receive andretain' a projected ball, and asemi-circularchannel formed."

between said handle portion and said pocket and defining the sides ofsaid pocket, the said channel becoming progressively wider toward saidpocket.

3. Ina device for catchinga pitched ball in play, a

flexible body formed with a handle on one end, a flexible semi-spherical7 pocket formed on said body opposite said handle providing a receptaclefor said ball, the said pocket having side elements extending towardsaid handle and gradually curved inwardly toward said handle de fining achannel for guiding said ball into said pocket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 3642,638 Smith Feb. 6 19'00 Phillipp -Feb 4, 1936

1. A BALL CATCHING DEVICE COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE BODY OF RESILIENTMATERIAL HAVING A HANDLE PORTION FORMED ON ONE END, A SEMI-SHPERICALPOCKET FORMED ON SAID BODY OPPOSITE SAID HANDLE CAPABLE OF RECEIVING ABALL IN FLIGHT, THE SAID BODY BEING SEMI-CIRCULAR IN TRANSVERSE SECTIONBETWEEN SAID HANDLE AND SAID POCKET DEFINING A CHANNEL GRADUALLYWIDENING AND DEEPENING INTO SAID POCKET.